Verdict
Head-to-head · Best UPS Battery Backups

APC Back-UPS 600VA vs CyberPower CP1500PFCLCD

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

The short answer

APC Back-UPS 600VA comes out ahead by a clear margin (3.9 vs 2.9). The gap is mostly about home office users needing compact design — read the strengths below before deciding.

APC Back-UPS 600VA
Higher ratedRanked #4 in Best UPS Battery Backups
APC Back-UPS 600VA
$83.99as of Jul 7

The APC Back-UPS 600VA BE600M1 offers significant improvements over its predecessor with faster transfer times, enhanced surge protection, and extended battery life. Reviewers noted it provides 67 minutes runtime at 40 Watts compared to 43 minutes on the older model. The unit is more compact at 10.8 x 4.1 x 5.5 inches and includes a 1.5A USB port. However, it lacks Ethernet surge protection found on previous models. Users recommend it for home offices and small workstations where reliable power backup is needed.

Strengths
  • 67 minutes runtime with 40 Watt load versus 43 minutes on previous model
  • 6ms typical transfer time versus 8ms on previous model
  • 490 Joules surge energy rating versus 340 Joules on previous model
Watch-outs
  • No Ethernet line surge protection (RJ45 port) included
  • Battery life expected to be 3-5 years with 3-year warranty
CyberPower CP1500PFCLCD
Ranked #7 in Best UPS Battery Backups
CyberPower CP1500PFCLCD
$239.95as of Jul 7

The CyberPower CP1500PFCLCD is a line-interactive UPS designed for protecting high-end PC systems, offering 1500VA capacity and a comprehensive LCD display showing power statistics. Tom's Hardware noted its reliable protection features and user-friendly interface, though Custom PC Review pointed out the simulated sine wave output may not suit all sensitive equipment. The unit includes a 24.7 lb weight and 14.2 inch depth, making it suitable for desktop use but bulkier than some alternatives. It's best for users needing robust power protection for mid-to-high-end systems rather than those requiring true sine wave output.

Strengths
  • Features line-interactive topology for reliable power protection
  • Includes LCD display showing power statistics like voltage and frequency
  • Provides 1500VA capacity suitable for high-end PC setups
Watch-outs
  • Outputs simulated sine wave instead of true sine wave
  • Battery replacement kit is lower capacity (8AH) than original (9AH)
  • Larger physical footprint compared to some competitors

How they stack up

APC Back-UPS 600VA

The APC Back-UPS 600VA offers faster transfer times and a more compact design compared to the CyberPower PR1000LCDRT2U, which is discontinued. However, it lacks Ethernet surge protection, unlike the Tripp Lite OMNI 1500LCD which provides more comprehensive surge protection for home setups.

CyberPower CP1500PFCLCD

The CyberPower CP1500PFCLCD offers a user-replaceable battery and LCD display, features not found in the APC Back-UPS Pro 1500VA. However, it's bulkier than the Tripp Lite SMART1500LCDT and outputs simulated sine wave instead of true sine wave, unlike the Eaton 5E 850LI which provides true sine wave output.

Specs side-by-side

SpecAPC Back-UPS 600VACyberPower CP1500PFCLCD
VA Rating6001500 VA
Wattage330W900 W
TopologyStandbyLine-Interactive
WaveformTrue Sine WaveSimulated Sine Wave
Outlets712 NEMA 5-15R
Runtime67 minutes (40W load)10 minutes at half load
Input Voltage120 volts120 VAC
Battery TypeLead-Acid batterySealed Lead-Acid
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